Event-Highlights 

• Drooms x Goldener Hahn Oktoberfest: Als traditioneller Auftakt zum Messegeschehen brachte das exklusive Pre-Event am 5. Oktober Kunden und Partner in lockerer Atmosphäre zusammen. Knapp 40 Gäste genossen bayrische Spezialitäten und nutzten die Gelegenheit, sich auf die Messe einzustimmen.  

• Käfer am See Lunch: Am 6. und 7. Oktober lud Drooms zum Networking-Lunch ein. Der Fokus lag auf engerem Austausch und der Stärkung langfristiger internationaler Partnerschaften – ideal, um Branchentrends zu diskutieren und neue Geschäftsansätze zu entwickeln.  

• Last Orders – EXPO REAL Get-Together: Am zweiten Messetag sorgte die “Last Orders”-Veranstaltung für ein entspanntes Ausklingen des Tages. Frisch gezapftes Bier und Bratwurst vom Grill bildeten den Rahmen für lockere Gespräche mit Kollegen und neuen Kontakten.  

Panels und Diskussionen

Immobilieninvestments: zwischen Markt, Off-Market und KI 
Im Panel am Mittelhessenstand diskutierten Jörn Burghardt, Dr. Gesa Crockford (Immobilien Scout GmbH) und Alexandre Grellier (Drooms), wie KI und digitale Plattformen die Transaktionslandschaft nachhaltig verändern. Praxisnahe Impulse zu Off-Market-Deals, Deal-Sourcing und echten Mehrwerten durch KI standen im Mittelpunkt. 

KI in der Immobilienbranche – Gamechanger oder Hype? 
Im Panel mit Dr. Stefan Kucera (Kucera Rechtsanwälte), Johannes Wowra (Spryfox), Andre Bodczian (FinEstHub), Dr. Philipp Weiner (Praemia REIM Germany AG) und Alexandre Grellier (Drooms) moderiert von Sonja Rösch, wurde der tatsächliche Reifegrad von KI kritisch beleuchtet. Diskutiert wurden u.a. Use Cases wie Vertragsanalyse, ESG-Datenverarbeitung und Asset Management sowie bestehende regulatorische und praktische Grenzen. 

Weitere Einblicke von unserem Team vor Ort:

• Wie war die Stimmung auf der EXPO REAL 2025?

• Welcher Trend hat die Branche in diesem Jahr am stärksten geprägt, und welche Veränderungen erwarten wir für 2026?

• Wo sehen wir derzeit die spannendsten Entwicklungen bei den Assetklassen?

• Wie beeinflussen Nachhaltigkeitsziele und ESG-Kriterien aktuell die Entscheidungsprozesse in der Immobilienwirtschaft?

EXPO REAL 2025 war erneut eine ideale Plattform, um Kontakte zu vertiefen, aktuelle Branchenthemen zu diskutieren und gemeinsam an Ideen für die Immobilienwelt von morgen zu arbeiten. Herzlichen Dank an alle Teilnehmer, Panelisten und Besucher, die das Event zu einem vollen Erfolg für Drooms gemacht haben. 

Released in Q3 – 2025

Chat Update

Chat is now available in full page mode, making it more comfortable for longer, more detailed discussions. Access the Chat from the navigation bar, contacts page, or by expanding a conversation – all familiar functionalities remain at your fingertips.

Project group chats have also arrived. Group chats are created and managed automatically for each user group within your data room, with membership updates are reflected instantly to ensure seamless collaboration and less manual admin effort.

Duplicate Detection

You can now find documents with identical content, even if their names are different. Use the new filter to spot and manage duplicates quickly, reduce confusion, and streamline reviews.

Mobile app updates

Quickly generate and share links directly from your documents within the mobile app, making collaboration on the go even easier. And to keep group chats organised and secure, we’ve introduced a new Chat Moderator role that allows designated users to manage group membership.

Released in Q2 – 2025

New Navigation

The data room navigation has been redesigned for a cleaner, simpler experience. Project-related options now appear at the top of the page for faster, more intuitive access, and general account navigation is more logically arranged to help you find key features with ease.

What changed:

• General account navigation will be rearranged for a more logical layout, giving you quicker access to key sections like Projects, Help, and Account Settings. 
• Project-related navigation will move from the left side to the top of the page, right under the navigation bar, making it easier to switch between different parts of your project or data room. 
• The top bar will include direct access to Chat, Notifications, and Downloads, so you can see updates at a glance. 

Mobile App Update

You can now manage permissions directly from your mobile device. View and edit settings for multiple user groups in one screen, wherever you are. Plus, stay on top of your messages with new unread message badges on the mobile app home screen.

Released in Q1 – 2025

Drooms AI Assistant

A breakthrough innovation that is set to transform M&A, real estate, and corporate finance transactions forever.

The most advanced dealmaking AI available brings you:

• Instant document analysis: Find key insights in seconds
• AI-powered automation: Cut manual work and speed up decision-making by 50%
• Uncompromising security: Your data stays protected at all times

Tomorrow’s leading dealmakers are using AI today. Why aren’t you?

Get Link

Need to point someone to a specific document, folder, or even a single page? You can now copy a direct link and share it instantly. No more digging through folders or giving instructions on where to look.

• Index Export just got smarter: One click from the spreadsheet takes you straight to the document.
• Controlled access: Only users with permission can view it. Others? They can request access instantly.
• Clickable text fields: Add links to bookmarks, Q&As, findings or messages for quick reference.

Copy to Data Room

Transferring critical documents has never been easier. The new Copy To Data Room tool simplifies the process, giving you more control and saving valuable time.

• Preserve structure: Maintain original folder and document organisation.
• Instant setup: Transfer documents quickly for time-sensitive opportunities.
• Guaranteed accuracy: Eliminate manual errors with precise data replication.
• Enhanced security: Keep your documents within a controlled, GDPR-compliant environment.

Whether for due diligence or transitioning between phases, this tool provides the speed, security, and flexibility you need.

Released in Q4 – 2024

Drooms Chat

Say goodbye to switching between platforms to manage your deal communications.

• Effortlessly collaborate, message, and share files within the Drooms platform.
• Enhance security with fully GDPR-compliant messaging.

Ready to experience seamless communication? Log in to Drooms to try it out or watch our product webinar.

Released in Q3 – 2024

Online Archive

Finalising transactions just got greener and more secure with Drooms Online Archive, our solution for sustainable post-deal archiving.

• Faster transactions without the hassle of USB sticks
• Eco-friendly: 100% renewable energy
• Advanced security measures
• Legal protection with complete data and usage logs

Archive your data room for 1 to 10 years with the option to extend. Embrace the future of secure and sustainable archiving.

Work in multiple tabs and devices

Flexibility meets functionality! You can now work on the Drooms platform across multiple browser tabs and devices seamlessly.

• Open multiple tabs without re-signing in.
• Switch between devices without disrupting your session.

Maintain security with features like 2FA, SSO, and IP filtering while enjoying enhanced control and ease.

Batch Redaction

Protect sensitive data and save time with our improved redaction capabilities.

• Batch redaction: Redact multiple documents and folders simultaneously.
• New AI category: Automatically detect and redact “monetary values.”
• Expanded capabilities: Create redaction markups directly within documents.

This feature streamlines compliance and safeguards your data with remarkable efficiency.

Released in Q2 – 2024

Group Collaboration

Boost transparency and accountability in team workflows with the Group Collaboration feature.

• View all group members and their document uploads
• Share notes, highlights, and findings within your group
• Admins can enable visibility per user group for seamless management

This feature fosters collaboration and alignment across your team.

Add New Asset

Administrators of Drooms LIFECYCLE and PORTFOLIO projects can now create new asset data rooms directly within existing projects.

• Greater autonomy to manage projects without customer support
• Instant access for all administrators and project managers
• Simple setup with just a few clicks

Stay agile and responsive with this dynamic feature.

Released in Q1 – 2024

Advanced Permissions

Take control of your data room like never before with Advanced Permissions.

• Set specific viewing, saving, printing, and editing rights for users
• Allow content managers to upload data without full admin rights
• Tweak permissions on the fly with detailed tracking for every action

This added flexibility and security ensures your data remains protected and accessible as needed.

What comes next?

Drooms is getting a makeover! In a few weeks, you will see design changes on our platform.  We are in the process of releasing gradual improvements in the interface, progressing towards a full design makeover.

At Drooms, we’re committed to empowering you with tools that drive efficiency, security, and success. If you’re ready to explore these new features, log in to your account today or contact us for a personalised demo.

We’re excited to see how these updates transform your workflows!

Over the past few years, with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), we gradually witnessed a new phase evolve: The AI-powered virtual data room not only centralises documents but also makes them smarter, easier to search, and more secure.

From Online Data Rooms to Automated Platforms

Traditional online data rooms have already simplified access to documents compared to physical archives or unstructured file-sharing tools. However, structuring and reviewing thousands of files manually can still be slow and error-prone.

This is where the automated virtual data room comes in. By leveraging AI, it can take over tedious tasks such as naming and sorting documents, redacting sensitive information, or even document analysis to find an summarise key information or risks. As a result, companies can drastically reduce the time needed to prepare for due diligence or fundraising.

Key Benefits of an AI-Powered Virtual Data Room

Implementing AI in document management is more than just a technological upgrade — its “move now, or get left behind”. Some of the main advantages of a virtual data room enhanced by artificial intelligence include:

1. Advanced search: Quickly find contracts, financial statements, or reports using natural language queries.
2. Process automation: Less manual work, more efficiency in document handling.
3. Enhanced security: A truly secure virtual data room with AI can detect suspicious logins or unusual behaviour.
4. Improved user experience: Smarter interfaces and intelligent suggestions that guide users.
5. Scalability: Adaptable to the needs of growing companies or complex transactions.

Security First: Why a Secure Virtual Data Room Matters

One of the main reasons companies choose a secure virtual data room is to protect confidential information. AI brings this to the next level: Beyond encryption and access controls, it can analyse usage patterns and flag abnormal activity in real time. This minimises the risk of data leaks and strengthens the trust of investors and partners.

Conclusion: The Future Has Already Begun

The AI-powered virtual data room represents the future of document management. It’s no longer just about storing files but about transforming them into actionable, secure, and instantly accessible knowledge.

For companies that want to stay competitive, investing in an automated virtual data room is no longer a “nice to have” — it’s a necessity.

Why AI-driven due diligence is a game changer

The kind of data you now handle in each transaction has grown: On average, per deal data volumes have surged by 20% in the last year. With the growing complexity and regulatory scrutiny, manual document review is not only labour-intensive, it’s prone to human error. Enter AI-powered solutions, which streamline processes and empower professionals to focus on what really matters: making better, faster decisions.

• Automated document review: AI agents swiftly process hundreds of files per deal, extract key clauses, and generate structured reports for immediate review.
• Comprehensive risk identification: Every page of every document is analysed, cross-referenced and checked for compliance gaps, title defects, and environmental risks.
• Enhanced accuracy: AI systematically flags issues in real time, minimising oversight and supporting seamless knowledge access for teams.
• Predictive analytics and reporting: From market shifts to buyer profiles, AI evaluates risks and delivers actionable insights in comprehensive reports.

The impact: Speed, accuracy, and better outcomes

European transaction timelines have reached new highs: 363 days on average, with a UK record of 499 days per deal. These longer durations are driven by mounting regulatory hurdles, greater data requirements, and the need to coordinate with more stakeholders. In this climate, AI-powered due diligence is essential: by automating document review, enhancing risk identification, and streamlining reporting, AI supports real estate professionals in compressing timelines wherever possible, improving accuracy, and increasing deal success rates.

Industry standards and best practices

Managing this growing complexity demands more structure and transparency. The adoption of standardised indices, such as the Real Estate Due Diligence Index, ensures that every deal covers all critical areas: property, legal, and financial. Combined with AI-driven workflows, these frameworks are setting new benchmarks for efficiency, allowing teams to handle increasing document volumes with confidence and clarity.

Overcoming hurdles, driving success

As highlighted in our whitepaper, successful AI adoption relies on iterative pilot projects, thorough training, and engaging teams early. Addressing challenges such as data privacy, lack of interfaces, and staff scepticism is vital – but the payoff is clear: increased efficiency, higher data quality, and improved tenant satisfaction.

Don’t get left behind—the future is AI-enabled

A seismic shift is underway. As the “AI divide” widens, early adopters will gain a competitive edge, leveraging platforms like Drooms for secure, GDPR-compliant data rooms and powerful due diligence. Staying ahead means embracing digital transformation, evolving AI tools, and ensuring robust data protection and integration.

Learn more and download the full report

Curious about how your team can benefit from smarter, faster, safer due diligence? Discover actionable strategies, practical best practices, and market insights in the full Drooms whitepaper.

Bring your deal preparation, compliance, and transactional workflows into the new era. Stay competitive, stay confident with AI-driven due diligence.

Last Orders @ EXPO REAL 2025

Beenden Sie den zweiten Messetag mit Drooms! Von 16:00 bis 19:00 Uhr erwarten Sie frisch gezapftes Bier und Bratwurst vom Grill zwischen Halle A1 und A2. Nutzen Sie die Gelegenheit, sich in lockerer Atmosphäre mit Branchenkollegen auszutauschen und den Messetag entspannt ausklingen zu lassen.

Fully booked

Am 6. Oktober von 15:00 bis 16:00 Uhr im Raum B12 erwartet Sie eine praxisnahe Expertenrunde: KI in der Immobilienbranche – Gamechanger oder Hype? Sonja Rösch (PB3C) moderiert das Panel mit Dr. Stefan Kucera (Kucera Rechtsanwälte), Johannes Wowra (Spryfox), Andre Bodczian (FinEstHub), Dr. Philipp Weiner (Praemia REIM) und Alexandre Grellier (Drooms). Diskutiert wird, wo KI echten Mehrwert schafft – etwa bei Vertragsanalyse, ESG oder Asset Management – und wo noch Hürden bestehen. Freuen Sie sich auf eine lebendige Diskussion und konkrete Einblicke in den aktuellen Reifegrad von KI in der Praxis.

Erleben Sie eine fokussierte und zukunftsorientierte Gesprächsrunde am Mittelhessenstand (C1.140)! Von 14:30 bis 15:00 Uhr diskutieren Jörn Burghardt (GPEP), Dr. Gesa Crockford (Immobilien Scout GmbH), Alexandre Grellier (Drooms) und weitere Experten, wie sich Immobilieninvestments zwischen Markt, Off-Market und KI verändern. Im Zentrum stehen frische Impulse: Sind Off-Market-Transaktionen wirklich ein Wettbewerbsvorteil? Wo bringen digitale Plattformen und KI heute echten Mehrwert? Nutzen Sie die Gelegenheit für neue Perspektiven und praktisches Branchenwissen.

Wir freuen uns, Ihnen unser Expertenteam vorzustellen, das an der EXPO REAL 2025 teilnehmen wird. Mit umfangreicher Erfahrung und tiefgreifendem Branchenwissen sind unsere Fachleute darauf vorbereitet, die Herausforderungen zu verstehen, denen Sie bei der Vorbereitung und Durchführung komplexer Transaktionen begegnen. So können wir Ihnen zeigen, wie unsere Lösungen Ihre Geschäftsprozesse revolutionieren können. Nutzen Sie die Gelegenheit, unser Team persönlich zu treffen, Ihre spezifischen Herausforderungen zu besprechen und maßgeschneiderte Lösungen mit dem Drooms AI Assistant zu entdecken.

BOARD

Alexandre Grellier

CEO

Javier Meseguer

CRO

Jan Hoffmeister

CEO & Founder

SALES DACH

Pia Maria Goossens

Head of Sales – DACH

Termin vereinbaren

Hartmut Iller

VP National Sales

Termin vereinbaren

Regina Keller

Director Business Development

Termin vereinbaren

Fabio Sachs

Business Development Manager

Termin vereinbaren

Josefina Scheliga

Business Development Manager

Termin vereinbaren

Johannes Grüny

Business Development Manager

Termin vereinbaren

SALES UK, IRELAND & BENELUX

Alexander Spronk

Head of Sales UK, I & BeNeLux

Termin vereinbaren

AI adoption: Where are we now?

AI investment is robust: Surveys by the CFA Institute, BNY Mellon, and EY have found that 70–80% of asset managers are investing in AI, but typically only a quarter rate their capabilities as mature or feel very confident in their use of AI. Why the disconnect? Experience shows that while AI excels at specific tasks like document review or due diligence, widespread, confident integration is held back by cultural and operational challenges, not just technological ones.

Unlocking value: The practical impact of AI

• Automating the mundane: AI is currently most effective when automating repetitive manual work, such as sifting through documents for due diligence or compliance checks. This frees up asset managers and legal advisors to focus on analysis, negotiation, and strategy.
• Cutting time-to-close: With AI-driven platforms, information can be retrieved, organised, and analysed much faster, shaving weeks off the due diligence phase alone. In practice, platforms built around AI are reducing document review times by 50% or more.
• Cost and competitiveness: By streamlining legwork, firms have reduced legal costs and can work on more deals simultaneously. However, in some cases, AI is used more for show than for practical value – the focus must remain on measurable improvements, not hype.

Foundations matter: Data readiness is key

Despite advances, most firms are still not consistently “deal ready”. From our own experience, we see that around 60-70% of customers lack organised documentation and don’t hold information centrally. Due to this, the actual deal preparation phase takes longer, because documentation needs to be found, reviewed and updated first. The property industry struggles with managing data because recording and updating it is often undervalued as a tedious admin task. Fragmented and poorly structured data remains a stubborn pain point, with issues like:

• Data stored across multiple, disconnected systems
• Lack of standardisation and clear governance
• Insufficient transparency about what documentation is available (or missing)

Without these foundations, AI alone cannot deliver magic solutions – data must be structured and centralised from the outset. No matter how powerful an AI tool, it is only as effective as the information it works with.

AI’s role in speeding up dealmaking and beyond

While AI is not a cure-all solution, it can significantly accelerate certain high-effort processes. For example:

• AI-assisted document summarisation can speed due diligence by up to 50%, although current tools don’t achieve 100% accuracy yet and require human oversight to verify outputs. Verification can only happen if the AI-tool shares its sources.
• AI helps reduce legal costs by compiling and structuring information for lawyers to review more efficiently.
• Pipeline management and validation are key areas where AI can progressively boost productivity.

That said, AI hallucination (where AI generates inaccurate or fabricated content) remains a concern, emphasising the continued need for human checking and accountability in workflows. Validation, context, and ethical judgment remain core human strengths. Technology will not replace dealmakers; rather, it will empower them to focus on relationship-building and strategy.

Transparency is also vital, not just for internal users, but for clients and regulators as well. Asset managers need to know how decisions were made, what data was used, and where any limitations or risks lie.

Overcoming barriers: Trust, awareness, and change management

Many in the real estate sector have yet to fully adopt AI, citing reasons such as:

• Lack of awareness about available AI tools.
• Limited internal structures and processes to support AI implementation.
• Distrust in AI platforms, especially consumer-facing ones like ChatGPT, compared to enterprise-grade solutions.
• Lengthy IT approval processes restricting rapid technology adoption.

Risk management through thorough tool evaluation, including legal compliance assessments, understanding where data is stored, and completing due diligence questionnaires before adoption are important best practices.

Getting started: Recommendations for asset managers

To fully leverage the benefits of AI, firms should focus on these principles:

• Centralise and standardise data: Build a “single source of truth” with structured, up-to-date documentation.
• Invest in data governance: Strong management practices underpin every successful AI application.
• Prioritise transparency: Use platforms that support audit trails and clear reporting.
• Set practical goals: Deploy AI where it delivers tangible improvements, such as reducing due diligence times or streamlining document reviews.
• Champion human oversight: Keep people involved to review, validate, and explain outputs – building trust and confidence. Use platforms that share sources for generated input.
• Ensure data protection: Only use platforms that have a proven track-record of advanced security measures and are built to protect confidential information.
• Deploy dedicated data experts: Hiring a dedicated data manager can significantly improve outcomes.

Conclusion: Incremental innovation builds long-term value

AI offers asset management an evolutionary path toward enhanced efficiency, better capital raising, and faster, more reliable dealmaking. The journey demands incremental progress grounded in solid data infrastructure, human oversight, and cross-industry collaboration.

The companies achieving the most value will be those blending thoughtful AI integration with strong data governance and clear accountability – taking deliberate steps to “walk before they run”. At Drooms, we remain committed to supporting asset managers through this journey by providing a secure, user-friendly digital platform designed to future-proof dealmaking and asset management workflows. 

If you want to find out more about Drooms AI, click here. 

The AI revolution in mergers and acquisitions is no longer a distant possibility – it’s the current reality. The numbers in our latest whitepaper make this abundantly clear. 

With 97% of corporations and private equity firms having incorporated some form of AI into their dealmaking processes, and 80% planning full lifecycle integration within three years, the question isn’t whether to adopt AI, but how to do it successfully.

AI-enabled M&A firms achieve up to 1.6 times higher shareholder returns than traditional practitioners, complete deals in weeks rather than months, and identify value creation opportunities that escape conventional analysis. Early adopters are progressing on a journey of full AI integration with every stage of the deal-making process. But it’s not a quick fix and requires a structured approach. 

Cutting corners on the journey will result in a disjointed, less effective AI implementation. On the other hand, taking shortcuts will get you to your M&A AI destination quicker and provide you with a fully integrated set of powerful tools that will keep you ahead of competitors. The most successful implementations follow an evolutionary path that begins with proven tools delivering immediate value and progresses toward comprehensive workflow transformation.

This article provides a high-level roadmap to help you achieve this goal.

Phase one: Foundation building with proven tools 

The most effective AI journeys begin with established, trusted platforms that address immediate pain points while building organisational AI literacy.

Document analysis and due diligence automation

Start with AI-powered due diligence platforms that can analyse contracts, financial statements, and legal documents at scale, to automate the due diligence process. As evidenced in our whitepaper, these tools reduce due diligence timelines by up to 50% while improving consistency and thoroughness. Focus initially on high-volume, routine document analysis where AI’s advantages are most pronounced.

Natural Language Processing (NLP) for insight extraction

Implement NLP tools that analyse management presentations, employee communications, and market research to assess organisational culture, strategic alignment, and potential integration challenges.  Modern large language models (LLMs) can process thousands of documents simultaneously, identifying patterns and sentiment that human analysis might miss.

Automated reporting and communication

Deploy AI tools that generate transaction summaries, due diligence reports, and integration planning documents. Generative AI platforms can draft integration workplans and transition service agreements in less than 20% of the time previously required, enabling faster market responses and improved client service.

Phase two: Process integration and workflow optimisation

Once foundational tools are established, the next phase involves integrating AI across the deal lifecycle and optimising workflows.

End-to-end deal pipeline management

Expand AI implementation to deal sourcing and pipeline management. AI systems can monitor market activity, identify potential targets based on strategic criteria, and assess transaction probability by applying pattern recognition to historical data. Advanced platforms can analyse public filings, news articles, and industry reports to identify companies looking to acquire or merge as part of market consolidation or strategic intent.

Predictive analytics for synergy identification

Implement AI tools that identify synergy opportunities through pattern recognition across historical transactions and operational data analysis. Machine learning algorithms can analyse successful integration patterns to predict which synergies are most likely to offer an M&A opportunity.

Risk monitoring in real time

Deploy AI systems that continuously assess risk throughout the transaction process. These platforms can monitor regulatory changes, track news and social media sentiment from the target company, and alert deal teams to emerging issues that could impact valuation or transaction structure.

Phase three: Advanced capabilities and competitive differentiation

The final phase focuses on developing advanced capabilities that provide sustainable competitive differentiation.

Custom AI model development

Develop proprietary AI models trained on your organisation’s historical transaction data and performance outcomes. Custom models provide the greatest competitive advantage because they encode your organisation’s unique knowledge and experience in ways that competitors can’t copy.

Integrated decision support systems

Create AI systems that combine all your data and analysis tools into a single platform, providing you with comprehensive insights into deals. These systems can test various deal scenarios, predict the effectiveness of integrations, and suggest the best way to structure transactions.

Organisational transformation: Beyond technology implementation

Successful AI implementation also requires a comprehensive organisational transformation that addresses culture, skills, and processes.

Talent development and change management

AI adoption improves employee satisfaction and retention by automating routine tasks and allowing for a greater focus on strategic work. HR and individual business functions should invest in training programs that build AI literacy across the organisation. Team members need to understand both the capabilities and limitations of AI to use these tools effectively.

Process redesign for AI integration

Move beyond simple task automation to comprehensive workflow redesign that maximises AI capabilities. Successful organisations redesign their M&A processes from the ground up to leverage AI capabilities rather than simply overlaying AI tools on existing workflows.

Implementation success factors

Security and compliance first

Prioritise enterprise-grade AI solutions that provide robust security and compliance capabilities. Look for platforms such as Drooms, which offer secure, in-platform AI analysis with advanced security, access controls, and comprehensive audit trails. For more information on our AI’s security, please read here.

Executive sponsorship and resource commitment

It starts at the top! Ensure strong executive sponsorship and adequate resource allocation. Leadership must communicate the strategic importance of AI adoption and model the behavioural changes required for successful implementation. Change can feel threatening, and there may be initial resistance to new working processes and practices. Using selected M&A AI “ambassadors” at all management levels is reassuring and demonstrates the benefits of AI in the M&A process.

Iterative approach with continuous learning

Adopt an iterative implementation approach that allows for continuous learning and adjustment. Establish feedback loops that capture people’s experiences to improve the way AI tools are used in practice.

The journey to competitive advantage

Organisations beginning their AI journey in M&A can achieve a significant competitive advantage by following proven implementation strategies. The key is starting with solid foundations, building capabilities progressively, and maintaining focus on value creation rather than just process automation.

The window for competitive AI adoption remains open, but it’s closing rapidly as industry adoption accelerates. Success requires more than technology deployment – it demands organisational transformation, cultural change, and strategic vision. 

The firms that master AI-driven dealmaking will define the future of M&A. At the same time, those who delay adoption will find themselves increasingly disadvantaged in a rapidly evolving competitive landscape.

A due diligence platform – the hub of any M&A transaction

Wherever you are on your M&A AI journey, a centralised platform such as Drooms, plays a crucial role as the hub of all deal-related activity.

The platform features many AI tools that are securely integrated and easily accessible. AI-powered workflows and 24/7 support will accelerate processes throughout the transaction process. 

Drooms suite of advanced AI features helps you sort, analyse, translate and redact sensitive information in a fraction of the time you would need to do it manually. And its advanced security features ensure that only the right people have access to the platform.

The numbers detailed in our latest whitepaper tell a stark story. 

In 2025, M&A firms where AI is fully integrated in the deal-making process are achieving up to 1.6 times higher shareholder returns than their traditional counterparts, completing deals in weeks rather than months, and identifying value creation opportunities that conventional analysis often overlooks. 

Meanwhile, traditional firms, which may use AI in part, are increasingly relegated to smaller, less strategic transactions – a vulnerable place to be in an industry where scale and sophistication determine survival.

The widening performance chasm

The competitive divide between AI-enabled and traditional M&A firms has moved beyond incremental advantages to fundamental performance gaps that threaten the viability of conventional approaches. 

Early adopters aren’t just working faster; they’re operating in an entirely different paradigm. Consider the reality of deal execution speed. AI-powered firms close deals in weeks while traditional firms take months. In competitive bidding situations, this speed advantage often wins the deal. The faster firms also deliver better financial returns.

Research included in our whitepaper indicates that 80% of acquirers using AI achieve superior shareholder returns, with revenue growth from AI-enabled combinations averaging 1.5 times higher than traditional deals. These aren’t marginal improvements – they represent a fundamental shift in value creation capability that traditional approaches cannot match.

Perhaps most damaging is the depth of the analytical capability gap between early M&A AI adopters and traditional teams. Traditional teams, constrained by human limitations, typically review subsets of available documentation and rely on sampling methodologies that inevitably miss critical details. AI systems analyse complete document sets with consistent thoroughness, revealing insights and risks that partial analysis overlooks.

The due diligence revolution

Nowhere is the traditional firm’s disadvantage more pronounced than in due diligence – historically, the most time-intensive and resource-intensive phase of any transaction. AI-powered platforms have transformed this critical process through automated document review, real-time risk identification, and the extraction of intelligent insights.

Traditional due diligence remains largely manual, requiring teams of analysts to spend weeks reviewing thousands of documents, contracts, and financial records. This approach is not only slow but inherently inconsistent. AI systems complete initial reviews in days with unprecedented consistency and thoroughness, reducing due diligence timelines by up to 50% while improving analytical quality.

The sophistication gap extends beyond speed to analytical capability. Large language models (LLMs) and natural language processing (NLP) enable AI systems to analyse thousands of contracts simultaneously, identifying standard terms, unusual clauses, and potential negotiation points that human reviewers might miss. They assess management presentations, employee communications, and market research to gauge organisational culture, strategic alignment, and integration challenges – analysis that traditional approaches cannot match at scale.

Integrated AI real-time risk assessment capabilities provide continuous monitoring throughout the due diligence process, tracking regulatory changes, monitoring target company news and social media sentiment, and alerting deal teams to emerging issues that could impact valuation or transaction structure.

The compounding disadvantage

Traditional M&A firms face a particularly unenviable challenge: their disadvantages compound over time while their competitors’ advantages accelerate. Each transaction completed by AI-enabled firms generates additional data and insights that improve their algorithms, expand their pattern recognition capabilities, and enhance their predictive accuracy.

The talent implications are equally challenging. 

As AI adoption spreads throughout the industry, the most capable professionals gravitate toward firms that offer cutting-edge tools and methodologies. Traditional firms are increasingly struggling to attract and retain top talent, as ambitious professionals recognise that AI-enabled environments offer better learning opportunities, more engaging work, and superior career prospects.

Client expectations have evolved rapidly as well. 

Corporate development executives and private equity partners who have experienced AI-enhanced deal processes become unwilling to accept traditional timelines and analytical limitations. They demand the speed, depth, and insight that AI enables, making it increasingly difficult for traditional firms to compete for premium mandates.

The late adopter trap

Companies that haven’t adopted AI yet are falling behind fast. AI users can analyse deals in a fraction of the time non-users still need. This puts late adopters at a major disadvantage when competing for deals or spotting problems early.

The financial implications are severe.

Traditional acquirers struggle to justify transaction premiums without AI-enhanced synergy identification and capture capabilities. They find themselves competing for deals with firms that have superior analytical capabilities, faster execution timelines, and better post-merger integration track records.

Perhaps most challenging is the escalating cost of catching up. 

As AI capabilities advance and become more sophisticated, the investment required for competitive implementation increases. Traditional firms must simultaneously invest in technology, retrain their personnel, and redesign their processes while competing against firms that have already undergone this transformation.

Security and compliance: The hidden vulnerability

Traditional firms face additional risks in an increasingly regulated environment where data security and compliance requirements continue to expand. Manual processes create inherent vulnerabilities that sophisticated AI systems can address through built-in safeguards, advanced encryption, and comprehensive audit trails.

Traditional methodologies, relying on human handling of sensitive documents and manual compliance processes, create exposure to regulatory fines and reputational damage that have in recent years. AI-enabled platforms provide enterprise-grade security with automated compliance monitoring that traditional approaches cannot match.

If you want to find out how Drooms handles data security and compliance in relation to AI, read our blog.

The path forward: Transform or perish

The facts are clear: AI is no longer optional in M&A – it’s essential. Traditional firms using old methods are in serious trouble, and this will only get worse as more companies adopt AI.

Research evidenced in our whitepaper shows 80% of dealmakers will use AI throughout their entire deal process within three years. AI is moving from cutting-edge to standard practice, leaving traditional approaches behind.

The choice facing traditional M&A firms is stark but clear: embrace comprehensive AI transformation now or accept progressive marginalisation in an industry that’s rapidly evolving beyond recognition. Half-measures and gradual adoption won’t suffice – the performance gaps are too wide and the pace of change too rapid for incremental responses to be effective.

The future of M&A is already here, and it’s powered by artificial intelligence. Traditional firms that recognise this reality and act decisively still have time to transform. Those that don’t will find themselves casualties of the industry’s most profound evolution in decades. The great M&A divide isn’t coming – it’s already here. The only question is which side of history your firm will choose to be on.

Author’s note

The content and data in this article are drawn from our latest whitepaper, which synthesises research and insights from leading consulting firms and industry sources, as well as our insights and experiences, to provide a comprehensive view of AI’s impact on mergers and acquisitions. The analysis is based on transaction data, performance metrics, and industry surveys from 2024 to 2025, representing the most current available intelligence on this rapidly evolving topic.

At Drooms, we’ve explored these questions in our latest whitepaper, uncovering the major forces shaping PE in 2025. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s inside:

• The new priorities: Value creation, operational excellence, and strategic growth are more important than ever as competition intensifies and dealmaking becomes more complex.
• Technology at the core: From AI integration to advanced data rooms, technology is transforming how PE firms manage deals, drive efficiency, and build investor trust.
• A changing market: With global fundraising patterns shifting and new investor expectations, flexibility and agility are now essential for long-term success.

As the industry faces heightened regulatory demands and rising investor scrutiny, the firms that embrace digital transformation will be best positioned to lead. But what specific strategies and tools are making the difference?

Discover the actionable insights, technology trends, and practical solutions that can help your firm excel in 2025 and beyond.

Read the full Drooms whitepaper: “How the PE industry can thrive with the latest technologies.”

Before and After

To make things clearer, here’s a quick look at the changes:

• Previously, the project-related navigation appeared on the left side of the page. Now, it’s moved to the top, right under the main navigation bar.
• The general account navigation has also been rearranged to a more intuitive layout.

Key changes

General navigation

The top bar and left panel are home to the general access buttons:

1. The top bar now includes Chat, Notifications, and Downloads, where you can quickly see if you have new updates in each section.
2. The left panel gives you easy access to the Projects page, Help, and Account settings.

Project-related navigation

The project-related navigation has been moved to the top of the page, right below the general navigation. This means you can easily switch between different parts of your project or data room:

1. You’ll see the parent portfolio (if applicable, the name of the current data room and the project ID.
2. You can easily jump between sections like the Index page, Reports, Users, Q&A, Findings, and Project settings.

What’s coming next?

This is just the start. Over the next few months, we’ll continue making these design updates across all pages, so everything looks and works in the same simple and clean way.